Designing the Future: Verónica’s Journey to Head of Design

A little bit of context: Meet Vero 💛

Name: Verónica

Age: 36

Degree: BA Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects from The University of Edinburgh

Current role: Head of Design

Orca-Anniversary: Nov 2021

Hey Verónica 👋 Congratulations on your recent promotion to Head of Design! Can you tell us a bit about what your Orca journey has been so far?

Hey, thank you! Being a generalist at heart, I’ve always enjoyed stepping into different areas and finding ways to make a meaningful impact. When I joined Orca Scan in 2021, I had the opportunity to build both the Design and UX teams from the ground up, defining Orca Scan’s visual identity and to embed user experience as a core part of how we operate. It hasn’t always been easy, but the trust and support I’ve experienced here have made every challenge worth it. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside such a talented and genuinely supportive team - and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

What has been your favourite project since working at Orca Scan?

Building the barcode label designer has been the most challenging, yet most fulfilling, project I’ve worked on so far. I really enjoyed every moment of cross-collaboration between the developers and our team, and I believe we’ve created something amazing in record time.

What are you most excited for as part of your new role?

What excites me most is the opportunity to shape both the product and the culture as the company grows. Being involved in defining how we approach design at a strategic level, and how we collaborate to solve problems, is something I genuinely care about. It’s not just about making things look good; it’s about making sure what we build is thoughtful, useful, and reflects who we are as a company.

You recently got back from ConFig in San Francisco, what was it like?!

ConFig was incredible! One of the biggest takeaways for me was just how powerful the right tools can be in improving how we run user testing and boost team efficiency. We got hands-on with some exciting features that could make a real difference in our day-to-day work. I met loads of people from across the industry doing brilliant work in spaces I don’t usually get to explore was hugely inspiring, so I’m full of ideas and already looking forward to the next one!

Do you feel inspired? Who/what were some of your favourite sessions and speakers?

A standout moment was Cheechee L.’s talk (Product Designer at Instagram) on using prototyping to influence strategy. It really challenged how I think about the role of design beyond just execution. There was also a lot of insight shared on scaling design teams across regions, which felt especially relevant as we grow and collaborate more globally.

You attended the conference with our awesome UX/UI designer, Carmela, how does Orca Scan support continuous learning and development for its design/ UX team?

I love working with Carmela, so it was great to go to Config together, she’s incredibly talented and has this amazing drive to learn and grow. I think Orca really helps to harness that. I think that in any creative role, you need the freedom to experiment, try new things, and even fail sometimes. That’s where real growth happens. When I joined, John (our CEO) gave me the space and trust to explore, make decisions, and learn from them… even when things didn’t go perfectly 👀. That level of trust helped me grow faster than I ever expected, so i’m doing my best to carry that forward and that’s how we work as a design team.

What are you most excited for in 2025, now you’re back? (new projects/ideas)

I’m excited to take Orca to the next level, growing the design team with more talented people, getting the product into more hands, and making sure it stays as beautiful, functional, and intuitive as ever. I can’t share too much just yet, but we’ve got some exciting things in the works for 2025. Big improvements are on the way, and I think our users are really going to love what’s coming.

What advice would you give to designers aspiring to move into leadership roles like yours?

Experiment. Fail. Face your fears. Then fail again… maybe more spectacularly this time 😜 Growth doesn’t come from playing it safe; if you’re not cringing at something you did a year ago, you’re probably not pushing yourself enough 😅 Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to keep learning, stay curious, and help others grow alongside you.